Jesse Gates Edible Forest

The bean plants were covered with beans yesterday when Richard and I stopped in to take more photographs of the Jesse Gates Edible Forest. We picked some to take this photograph; we also picked a few hot peppers to add some color. My own garden isn’t so far along; I have a few green tomatoes and just-set eggplant, but the only things I’ve harvested are peppers and herbs.If you want to see how the garden looked a few weeks back, see this post.

I’ve missed the work days this spring for the Jesse Gates Edible Forest, but I spent some time there this morning after church. There are lots of new plantings and I can see progress with the trees and berries planted last year. Also new is the sign.

On this sunny day, it was only Loy and me at the Jesse Gates Edible Forest at Wells Church. Lots of lettuce, herbs, and greens are growing! I brought home a huge bunch of lettuce for salads and two peppers.

The cabbages were beginning to head.

Loy checking the information tag for the cabbage.

This lettuce started from seed. It is showing out!

This is a purple top turnip. See the tiny bit of purple.

Mesclun Mix. In a shadier spot, not growing as quickly.

We put down newspapers, wet them, and put pine straw and leaf matter on top.

Three weeks ago, a group of volunteers participated in a fall work day at the Jesse Gates Edible Forest at Wells Church. Richard and I got over there yesterday to photograph the new plantings. Some plants started as seeds and others were seedlings. We saw broccoli, cabbage, greens, onions, and lettuce. I’ve also got some photographs of eggplant, peppers, and asparagus that are still growing from the spring planting.

Richard and I started the day at the Jesse Gates Edible Forest at Wells Church. Loy tipped us off that blueberries and blackberries were ripe. We figured it was time to photograph the progress. You can see the earlier set of photos here.

“The Jesse Gates Edible Forest at Wells Church came into being when two dreams met at the corner of Bailey Avenue and Idlewild Street in Jackson. In 2009, Wells Church acquired the property, concerned that the vacant house might become a source of trouble. Our dream was to replace the building with a garden that could be enjoyed by the neighborhood.

Children attending Galloway Elementary School walk past the house twice a day, and middle-schoolers stand in the front yard every morning waiting for the bus. Having that old vacant house right there didn’t seem like a good idea. We tore down the house and planted a lawn to provide some “green space” while we considered ideas for turning the lot into an appealing garden.

Then, we heard about the Mississippi Urban Forest Council, an organization aimed at promoting quality urban and community forestry in Mississippi. One of their goals was the establishment of a model “edible forest” to encourage the development of local orchards and vegetable sites and community gardens as one way to improve the health and welfare of Mississippians.

The mission of the project includes providing a model for growing local sources of fruits and vegetables, encouraging individual healthy eating and providing alternative sources of income by growing local produce.

The “Edible Forest” includes 26 fruit trees and multiple herbs and vegetables. It will be managed by local volunteers.

Part of the project includes community and citizen education regarding which edible plants can be grown locally for fresh produce. If you would like to be included in this information please send your email to the Mississippi Urban Forest Council at msufc@aol.com.

Shortly after work on the project began, we tragically lost one of our own young persons, Jesse Allen Gates, a talented musician and artist. Our Council and Board voted unanimously to dedicate this Edible Forest in his memory.

We invite you to drop by and visit the Jesse Gates Edible Forest at Wells Church, then contact the Mississippi Urban Forest Council for advice on how to develop one for your community.”

Richard and I are helping to document the transformation. We are getting help from lots of people, including the students who participate in after school programs at Operation Shoestring.